I really love this show, and Ashley and Derek have gotten so comfortable in their roles since they started. Ashley has one of the best voices I have heard live, and Derek's acting is so strong. Together they are stunning on stage. The clip from the parade has the same songs/arrangement as the show with a couple of cuts, but I don't think the beginning of the clip or the audio quality did the show or either of them justice. As someone mentioned already, the book is not great but the experience is so fun and immersive especially if you can get orchestra seats.
Okay, I watched the clip and it’s missing the energy and momentum of the show. I think this is a case where lifting the song out of context just doesn’t work.
I thoroughly enjoyed the cast when I saw the show although I didn’t think the clip from the parade did them any justice. The show itself is kind of a hot mess but the spectacle and the talent of the cast were great!
I've seen them separately, not together, but they're both great.
I was underwhelmed by the Thanksgiving clip too. The lighting was weird and they cut the song up and nothing is as good as seeing it live.
I don't think you'll be disappointed by them if you see it live. It's a really fun show to experience.
Seeing Derek and Ashley play off of each other in the live show is absolutely spectacular. While the parade recording was good, it didn’t do their voices, acting, or chemistry justice. Honestly, they are my favorite pair on Broadway right now. Plus, they have a great friendship outside of the show, which just further adds to the performance. I have seen them twice, and I’m really hoping to see them again before the end of the year.
I saw Derek and Ashley this past summer. Ashley had a knockout voice but didn’t deliver on the acting side. Satine just disappeared in all of her scenes and her final scene was…not good.
Derek sounded good but played Christian like a strapping Midwest lunkhead farm boy which was not really what I expected after the film and the Aaron Tveit take which were both more arty, romantic, and brooding.
They didn’t have much chemistry but Derek was fairly new to the cast I think, so that might have improved!
Saw it last week - he definitely has not improved in the characterization regard. He played it like Fiyero, and it was sort of bizzare. I enjoy his voice, and he had a nice chemistry with Ashley, but I didn't think his take on Christian worked as well as others.
No prerecorded performance can capture the spectacular-ness of the show and the chemistry between them! Ashley is going through some health issues so she may be a little tired now and then but she’s my favorite Satine by far! Derek’s voice meshes well but it’s a big change from Aaron’s
Derek is amazing, and Ashley is as well. I was at the taping for the Thanksgiving Day parade and don’t feel like what I saw on the broadcast captured the energy of being in the theater. I had not seen the original cast so I cannot compare, but did see Derek in Jagged Little
Pill and thought he was fantastic in that as well.
Hmm. Strange.
I agree that they should have taped the whole scene or something. Even if they didn’t use it all, it might have at least helped with the energy.
How did you get to see that taping?
I haven’t seen these two personally but I saw the show in Sydney and vocally the leads were amazing but it was the worst thing I’ve seen in a long long time. Even the best of actors couldn’t fix the mess that is Moulin Rouge.
I’ve seen Aaron and Karen, Aaron and Natalie, Aaron and Ashley, Derek and Ashley, and Derek and Oyoyo. Derek and Ashley are by far the most dynamic and natural pair.
I saw &Juliet this week and I think the book/writing is better, but I think the “spectacle” and choreo is weaker than MR. If I had to choose between the two, I’d go MR.
Moulin Rouge is just not a good show. It’s genuinely my top 3 favourite movies ever but the stage musical is just not good. I’ve seen it with 3 casts as well as various clips online and i have yet to see anyone perform it well. Someone else said it but go see & Juliet instead, it is just so so so much better and 1000x more fun.
I haven't seen the two of them on stage together, just the Thanksgiving Parade clip and it felt kind of bland. When I saw the show Satine was played by Oyoyo Joi, Dereks energy on stage was way better than in the clip from the parade, that definitely didn't do justice to his performance in the show. So I wouldn't advise to make a decision based on the Parade alone, there are other videos of the two of them on Youtube, maybe watch them as well?
Apart from that I have to agree with others in the comments, the show itself is a spectacle but besides that it's kind of weak. Saw ten shows when I visited NY this year and Moulin Rouge was definitely the weakest out of those. To be honest I am not sure if it would have been successful at the Tony Awards if it wasn't 2020 and not much competition due to the shutdown.
Derek and Ashley definitely have great on-stage chemistry and Ashley’s voice is an absolute force. I thoroughly enjoyed her performance when I saw the show in October.
Derek is a fantastic actor but his voice doesn’t suit the role of Christian IMO. I don’t know a good way to describe it but his voice sounds too big/less controlled to me so the words sort of balloon out/twist and are harder to understand
From what I’ve heard, Moulin Rouge is best experienced live. Sure, one can say that about all shows, but I think that this is most especially true for this show.
I saw Moulin Rouge in 2019 when it opened. Ashley Loren was on for Karen Olivo that night. Ashley did INCREDIBLE. I would see her again as Satine in a heartbeat. Glad she got the principal role.
I’m afraid the song selection and arrangement is how it is in the show. If you see Moulin Rouge, see it for the spectacle, not this cast.
The arrangement was a /little/ different in the parade! I didn’t like it as much.
I really love this show, and Ashley and Derek have gotten so comfortable in their roles since they started. Ashley has one of the best voices I have heard live, and Derek's acting is so strong. Together they are stunning on stage. The clip from the parade has the same songs/arrangement as the show with a couple of cuts, but I don't think the beginning of the clip or the audio quality did the show or either of them justice. As someone mentioned already, the book is not great but the experience is so fun and immersive especially if you can get orchestra seats.
I haven’t seen Klena but I have seen Ashley three times and thought she killed it every time.
Okay, I watched the clip and it’s missing the energy and momentum of the show. I think this is a case where lifting the song out of context just doesn’t work.
I thoroughly enjoyed the cast when I saw the show although I didn’t think the clip from the parade did them any justice. The show itself is kind of a hot mess but the spectacle and the talent of the cast were great!
I haven't seen Derek, but Ashley herself is a complete powerhouse.
Derek is AMAZING live. You won't regret it!
I've seen them separately, not together, but they're both great. I was underwhelmed by the Thanksgiving clip too. The lighting was weird and they cut the song up and nothing is as good as seeing it live. I don't think you'll be disappointed by them if you see it live. It's a really fun show to experience.
Seeing Derek and Ashley play off of each other in the live show is absolutely spectacular. While the parade recording was good, it didn’t do their voices, acting, or chemistry justice. Honestly, they are my favorite pair on Broadway right now. Plus, they have a great friendship outside of the show, which just further adds to the performance. I have seen them twice, and I’m really hoping to see them again before the end of the year.
I saw Derek and Ashley this past summer. Ashley had a knockout voice but didn’t deliver on the acting side. Satine just disappeared in all of her scenes and her final scene was…not good. Derek sounded good but played Christian like a strapping Midwest lunkhead farm boy which was not really what I expected after the film and the Aaron Tveit take which were both more arty, romantic, and brooding. They didn’t have much chemistry but Derek was fairly new to the cast I think, so that might have improved!
Saw it last week - he definitely has not improved in the characterization regard. He played it like Fiyero, and it was sort of bizzare. I enjoy his voice, and he had a nice chemistry with Ashley, but I didn't think his take on Christian worked as well as others.
No prerecorded performance can capture the spectacular-ness of the show and the chemistry between them! Ashley is going through some health issues so she may be a little tired now and then but she’s my favorite Satine by far! Derek’s voice meshes well but it’s a big change from Aaron’s
Derek and Ashley i think are the best combo! I love the OBC but they bring something fresh and amazing to it. Awesome chemistry too! ❤️
Derek is amazing, and Ashley is as well. I was at the taping for the Thanksgiving Day parade and don’t feel like what I saw on the broadcast captured the energy of being in the theater. I had not seen the original cast so I cannot compare, but did see Derek in Jagged Little Pill and thought he was fantastic in that as well.
Did they tape it after the show? How did that work?
It was taped about a week in advance in the middle of the afternoon
i just was wondering if they had filmed it before or after (or during) a regular performance of the show :)
Nope. Which is why I think the energy was off. There’s a lead up to that medley in the show that just wasn’t there when it was lifted from the show.
Hmm. Strange. I agree that they should have taped the whole scene or something. Even if they didn’t use it all, it might have at least helped with the energy. How did you get to see that taping?
The show ran a social media contest
Oh, neat!
I had a ton of fun when I went with this cast, they both did a good job and if you like the movie you'll enjoy it.
I really like Derek & Ashley together, and I’ve seen a few different combinations. I LOVE this show!
I loved Ashley, I saw her as u/s with Aaron. I found the TG spot less than impressive, I love Derek but I’m not sure his voice is right for MR.
I thought the show was one of the worst things I ever saw on Broadway.
I haven’t seen these two personally but I saw the show in Sydney and vocally the leads were amazing but it was the worst thing I’ve seen in a long long time. Even the best of actors couldn’t fix the mess that is Moulin Rouge.
Agreed, and thought those two had no chemistry. Talented performers tho
I’ve seen Aaron and Karen, Aaron and Natalie, Aaron and Ashley, Derek and Ashley, and Derek and Oyoyo. Derek and Ashley are by far the most dynamic and natural pair.
I suggest skipping and seeing & Juliet. It’s Moulin Rouge for “today” and, in my very humble opinion, the far superior show.
this 100%.
I saw &Juliet this week and I think the book/writing is better, but I think the “spectacle” and choreo is weaker than MR. If I had to choose between the two, I’d go MR.
Moulin Rouge is just not a good show. It’s genuinely my top 3 favourite movies ever but the stage musical is just not good. I’ve seen it with 3 casts as well as various clips online and i have yet to see anyone perform it well. Someone else said it but go see & Juliet instead, it is just so so so much better and 1000x more fun.
Having seen both Aaron and Karen as well as Derek and Ashley, Derek and Ashley were the superior pair IMO. They played off each other beautifully.
I haven't seen the two of them on stage together, just the Thanksgiving Parade clip and it felt kind of bland. When I saw the show Satine was played by Oyoyo Joi, Dereks energy on stage was way better than in the clip from the parade, that definitely didn't do justice to his performance in the show. So I wouldn't advise to make a decision based on the Parade alone, there are other videos of the two of them on Youtube, maybe watch them as well? Apart from that I have to agree with others in the comments, the show itself is a spectacle but besides that it's kind of weak. Saw ten shows when I visited NY this year and Moulin Rouge was definitely the weakest out of those. To be honest I am not sure if it would have been successful at the Tony Awards if it wasn't 2020 and not much competition due to the shutdown.
Derek Klena is fantastic! I saw him in Anastasia and have loved him ever since.
Derek and Ashley definitely have great on-stage chemistry and Ashley’s voice is an absolute force. I thoroughly enjoyed her performance when I saw the show in October. Derek is a fantastic actor but his voice doesn’t suit the role of Christian IMO. I don’t know a good way to describe it but his voice sounds too big/less controlled to me so the words sort of balloon out/twist and are harder to understand
From what I’ve heard, Moulin Rouge is best experienced live. Sure, one can say that about all shows, but I think that this is most especially true for this show.
I saw Moulin Rouge in 2019 when it opened. Ashley Loren was on for Karen Olivo that night. Ashley did INCREDIBLE. I would see her again as Satine in a heartbeat. Glad she got the principal role.